Meet Me at the Gym: Arrowsmith High, #2

By MJ Ray

Gymnastics is Riley's life, until she becomes stranded with her best friend's brother in a storm…

Every leap, every flip, brings me closer to my ultimate goal—the Olympics. Nothing can distract me. I'm focused and determined. There's no room for romance in my life, especially when it comes in the form of Russ, my best friend's brooding nineteen-year-old brother.

 

Between balancing school, homework, and hours at the gym, I barely have time to breathe, let alone think about love. Russ and I couldn't be more different. He's moody, mysterious, and forbidden. I know we can't be together, not just because he's my best friend's brother, but also because I'm still in high school and my dreams of the Olympics consume my every thought. So why can't I shake this undeniable pull towards him? Am I missing out?

 

"Meet Me at the Gym" takes you on an enchanting journey, the second book in the captivating Arrowsmith High series. MJ Ray weaves a sweet YA romance that explores forbidden love, introduces a brooding older guy, and a determined heroine who's not afraid to chase her dreams.

 

If you crave a coming of age story filled with forbidden attraction and determination this book is a perfect fit for you. Don't miss out on "Meet Me at the Gym," a heartfelt YA romance that will have you rooting for love against all odds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: MJ Ray
• Release date: May 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201393748

Book preview

Prologue

Riley

How terrible would it be, really, if I fell flat on my face? Yeah. Bad. That can’t happen. I can do this. I’ve practised this routine so many times that I could do it in my sleep. The line of judges watching and hundreds of people in the audience don’t make my butterflies any better, but I’ve got this.

I bite my lip and smooth down my purple leotard with sweaty hands; purple is the new team colour. I try to put to the back of my mind how it clashes with my red, curly hair. I'm sure the last thing the judges will care about is if my skin tone goes with my outfit. There is one thing and one thing only that they're interested in: gymnastics and how precise I can be with my moves.

I close my eyes and inhale slowly as the music starts. As soon as I take that first step onto the mat, that’s it; the nerves disappear. How I do today and what everyone expects of me, everyone pinning their hopes on me, vanishes, and it's just me and the music and the mat, my comfort zone, my happy place. It shows.

My opener is so good that I will sail into the rest of the routine if I get it right. I start to run, picking up speed as I go, and then take the leap, a forward somersault and a twist, then turn around into a backflip and spring. I nail it! My heart soars as I continue with the rest of the routine. It's over in minutes. This is going to be a good score. I turn to the crowd with my finishing backflip into a twisting somersault and land smoothly, get my balance, and my arms go into the air. I give a slow smile and let out a huge breath. I did it. I see big smiles from my coach, and all my teammates are whooping and clapping as I make my way back to them, my face flushed.

If I could bottle this feeling right now, the exhilaration, the high I get from doing this, I would be the richest girl on the planet because there is nothing like it.

Winning at life is what it feels like, even if it is for ten minutes while everyone is watching. Winning. It’s something that is ridiculously important to me.

As I reach them, Coach Marie comes over and pats me on the shoulder. Bloody amazing as always! You always deliver, Riley, and that twist backflip was perfection. You've got this comp in the bag.

I grin widely. She’s my mentor, my coach, sometimes my friend, but sometimes my worst enemy. She pushes me to my limit, but I have immense respect for her.

She hugs me, and I exhale; I’ve made her proud. I search the crowd to find the other person I want to make proud… my dad. My eyes land on a beautiful, brown, familiar pair of eyes staring straight at me. My stomach lurches as my heartbeat quickens even more. My mouth goes dry. What is Russ doing here? He watched me. Next to him, my best friend, Rosie, is smiling broadly at me and waving rapidly. Rosie has been saying that she wants to come and watch me. I love that she bought a ticket to this event, but why did she bring her brother? And why do I react like this every time I see him? I turn into a bumbling idiot. I can’t even get my words out. On a quick glance, I notice he is looking as good as always, his brown hair just long enough that it comes onto his forehead. He is head and shoulders above Rosie… And what shoulders they are, broad from the sports he does; he’s in good shape. There is something about him I can’t put my finger on, an intenseness there that I recognise in myself.

Get a grip, Riley.

He’s nineteen. Three years might not be a lot when you’re in your thirties, but a just-turned sixteen year old girl and a nineteen year old boy wouldn’t go down too well. He sees me as his kid sister's friend, someone who is way too young for him. The way he looks at me sometimes, though… It’s as though he sees me. Still, as much as I shouldn’t let my head go there, I can’t help but appreciate everything that is Russ because there is so much to appreciate. He is lush in every way, and the slight smile on his face right now might be small, yet so beautiful.

I shake my head to bring myself back into the now. Dad is sitting next to Rosie, cheering and clapping, and my heart warms at the sight of him, never missing a competition unless work doesn’t allow it. He’s my number one supporter. After Mum left, he could have crumbled, but he didn’t. He stepped up and is a better parent than she could ever have been, and for that, I’m so, so grateful. I wave at them. I'm not allowed to go to them until the competition finishes. I take a seat with the rest of my club as they congratulate me on my floor performance, my peers patting me on the back, and the little ones looking at me in awe. I remember being the little one, looking at the big ones with the same look they’re giving me right now. I take a deep breath and smile to myself; I’m doing okay. I still need to do the beam, and I’ve already done the bars. I hope that knowing Russ is in the audience now won’t make my nerves take over my performance, because the thought of him watching me makes me want to be sick.

image-placeholder

I step down from the podium, giving Dad and the rest of them a big grin and a thumbs-up, heat radiating from my chest with my first-place medal dangling from my neck. I’m so happy. In fact, happy doesn't even cover it. I’ve made everyone proud, my dad, my club, Rosie… and Russ. I wonder what he thought, if he was impressed. Rosie says he's grumpy at home. He's always nice to me, but Rosie says he’s different with me than he is with everyone else. She thinks he has a soft spot for me; he doesn't. He’s nicer to me than he is to his younger sister, and that’s not hard. He has a girlfriend anyway. She's new, but I hate how jealous I am about her. Rosie said she's pretty and seems nice. That makes it worse.

Everyone is waiting for me once the ceremony is over, and I go to them.

Dad is holding his arms open. Honey, you were fantastic! I knew as soon as you finished your floor routine that, unless something went wrong on the beam, that first spot was yours. Everyone in the audience went crazy. It was breathtaking.

Thanks, Dad, I say, prying myself away from his hug.

Rosie speaks. "Oh, my God! I never knew… I mean, I knew you trained tonnes and won medals and stuff, but I didn’t realise you were that good. You should be on TV. You are 100 percent going to the Olympics. How did I not know that my best friend could do that?"

I roll my eyes. Shut up. The flush creeps up my cheeks. Russ is standing to the side of her, and my ears are getting hot with embarrassment. I am purposely not looking at him.

I am in awe. You deserve first place. I’m a big fat lump of mud or something stood here with you right now after seeing what you can do and how you can throw yourself around!

I laugh. Rosie, seriously. Shut up.

No, she’s right. I hear Russ’s deep voice.

Rosie's head snaps around to glare at him.

Russ shakes his head. Not about you, sis. About her. He turns to me. Seriously good, Riles. Seriously. He’s a man of few words, but he gets the point across fine. Warmth floods me at his words. He affects me in a way that he shouldn’t.

Thanks, I say quietly, unable to make eye contact with him. I'm usually not quiet or shy, but I am around him. I hate it, hate that I have that reaction to him.

Hey, he says so that I’ll look at him.

I do what he wants.

You’re welcome. He winks at me.

He winks! My lips part as I draw in a breath. He just winked at me.

I glance at Rosie. I need to be normal - she is frowning at me. You okay, Riley? she asks.

I nod, my eyes flitting to Russ and back to her. Sure. Excited about the next stage.

She grins. When is your next competition?

I’ve got the nationals in a month and a competition for Europe that takes place in Madrid.

Yup. She’s a busy girl, my girl, Dad says.

He's right. It's going to involve a lot of training and hard work, but if I continue on this route, I will make it to the Olympics as long as I don’t let things get in my way, things like parties and boys… And crushes on my best friend’s brother. Things like that.

How easy it would be to let him distract me. Those brown eyes, with eyelashes… They should be illegal. Yes, I’ve examined them and those lips. When they smile at me, those lips make me feel like I’m the only girl that exists.

I look around at everyone greeting their families, everyone being congratulated. The atmosphere of the gym never fails to get to me. I remember how it felt up there on that podium. Receiving a gold medal at the Olympics, would be a million times better. I have to do it, not just for Dad or for Coach, but for me. It’s what I want. But getting what I want brings consequences, and those consequences are no time for boys or for socialising. I look at my dad; he’s looking at me with such admiration, so proud. Nope. That’s it. I will not get distracted, and I will do this. I want that Olympic gold medal, and nothing is going to stop me, even if it means sacrifices.

Chapter One

Riley

I stare out of the bus window while I wait for Rosie, not really taking in the view. Instead, I’m going through my new routine in my head. I watch her and Liam walk towards the bus and smile. They are so cute together, and who knew Liam had a soft side? I'm still sad that my crush fell for my best friend, but what can I do? One way to get over your crush is to have your best friend fall for him; besides, that’s all it was, just a crush.

I’m the queen of crushes. I get a new one every couple of months. I’m not stupid enough to think that real feelings were involved. Liam had never even spoken to me before Rosie came to our school and started hanging out with me. Rosie and I couldn’t be more different. She’s a curvy brunette, and I’m a skinny redhead. Liam is gorgeous, though, but he only has eyes for Rosie. That’s fine by me.

She steps on the bus, and her eyes fall on me. She sits beside me, and Liam sits in the empty seat adjacent. The minibus that takes us to and from school is full now; all the regular faces are here.

Hey, babe. How was food tech? Rosie asks me.

I shrug. I produced the best crumble ever made.

Rosie rolls her eyes. Competitive much?

I laugh. Yup. Self-confessed.

Liam shouts, Mine would have been the best, you know, if I’d remembered the ingredients.

I huff as Rosie's head spins to where he’s sat. What? Why didn't you take the ingredients? Did you get into trouble?

He winks at her. Doesn't matter, does it? I'm not gonna be making apple crumble in the future.

Argh. She turns to me, frowning. He makes me so mad. I hate that he doesn't stick to the rules.

Babe, you love it when I don't stick to the rules, he says, smirking.

She shakes her head at me. I don't. I really don't.

My best friend is a stickler for the rules. How she found herself dating the guy that likes breaking them is beyond me.

Liam looks over at me. Heard how awesome you were yesterday. Well done and all that.

I blush, not used to his attention. Thanks.

Rosie smiles at me. You were awesome.

Liam leans back in his seat. Yeah. Russ was saying that you were head and shoulders above the rest.

I straighten in my seat and raise my eyebrows. Russ was talking about me? Russ said that?

Rosie tilts her head at me, assessing my reaction. I may have mentioned to her in the past that her brother is hot. Yeah, he’s her brother, but she has eyes; she can see how good-looking he is, but if I don’t tone down my reactions when he’s mentioned, she will twig that I’m crushing on him.

Liam is oblivious. Yeah. He said you've seriously got moves, and you are the fittest girl he’s ever seen.

My eyes widen, and my breath catches in my throat. He said I was fit? He said that?

Yeah. Said that based on the speed you go at to enable you to make the moves you can, you must train four hours a day or something. He said your fitness levels are off the charts.

Okay. So, any hope that was building in me came crashing down and dissipated. He meant physical fitness levels. Of course he did.

Oh, yeah. I try to keep the disappointment out of my voice.

He turns to Rosie. Is he still seeing that girl? What’s she called? Carrie?

I lean in more intently. I am way too interested in anything that involves Russ.

Rosie shakes her head. I think so. He seems to like her; she’s okay, I guess. She doesn’t make much of an effort to talk to me, but I’ve only met her twice. Maybe she’s shy.

I shrug. I haven’t met her.

You coming over later? Rosie asks me.

Monday is my night off from the gym. I usually hang out there. Yeah. If that’s okay.

Liam shouts over my answer, What about me?

Rosie rolls her eyes. You have friends, babe. You'll manage.

I chuckle to myself. It’s so good to see how relaxed she is with him. It’s a different Rosie than the one that started at our school in September.

I'm gonna run over, get my exercise in for the day.

She shakes her head. " No way.